Back in Business

In Ritu Beri8217;s parlance, luxury is a way of life. It probably explains the air of easy opulence that characterises her, her clothes and even her new store.

In Ritu Beri8217;s parlance, luxury is a way of life. It probably explains the air of easy opulence that characterises her, her clothes and even her new store. The launch of her standalone couture boutique at Sainik Farm8217;s Ashoka Avenue saw elaborate paraphernalia 8212; from bagpipers and baroque furniture to old-world jhoolas and low-slung chandeliers, plus models trussed up in wedding finery.

Beri8217;s autumn-winter collection is ready and this year it is all about the Indian bride. 8220;I will be doing Bridal Asia for the first time this year, and this is what I have to offer them,8221; she says, pointing to the wispy chiffons with lace trimmings and Swarovski detailing and the intricate lehngas.

It has been a while since Beri has been seen active on the Indian fashion circuit8212; the last time she made a public appearance was for the launch of her Rs 1 lakh memoir, Firefly. 8220;Unless a project is challenging enough, I don8217;t feel it is worth being away from my daughter Gia,8221; she shrugs.

But she agrees that there are interesting things happening on the Indian fashion scene, including the recent HDIL Couture Week. 8220;I think it was long overdue, considering couture has been our forte. Think of the French chiffons that the Jaipur royal ladies donned or the Louis Vuitton luggage that characterised them,8221; she says, adding that she would love to be a part of fashion weeks in future. 8220;But regular, run-of-the-mill stuff bore me, so my projects will always be ambitious and larger-than-life,8221; says Beri.

Meanwhile, there is sport too on the menu. Beri is part of the advisory committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. 8220;My role is to provide a perspective on the aesthetics of the arrangements being done. I have been involved with the Commonwealth Games earlier and have designed costumes for the Indian contingent in several Games, barring the last one. This time, it would be interesting to see what we can pull off,8221; she says.

So shall we see the Indian participants donning costumes designed by her? 8220;Well, surely, if the budgets permit,8221; she laughs.

Paromita Chakrabarti

Paromita Chakrabarti is Senior Associate Editor at the The Indian Express. She is a key member of the National Editorial and Opinion desk and writes on books and literature, gender discourse, workplace policies and contemporary socio-cultural trends. Professional Profile With a career spanning over 20 years, her work is characterized by a "deep culture" approach—examining how literature, gender, and social policy intersect with contemporary life. Specialization: Books and publishing, gender discourse (specifically workplace dynamics), and modern socio-cultural trends. Editorial Role: She curates the literary coverage for the paper, overseeing reviews, author profiles, and long-form features on global literary awards. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent writing highlights a blend of literary expertise and sharp social commentary: 1. Literary Coverage & Nobel/Booker Awards "2025 Nobel Prize in Literature | Hungarian master of apocalypse" (Oct 10, 2025): An in-depth analysis of László Krasznahorkai’s win, exploring his themes of despair and grace. "Everything you need to know about the Booker Prize 2025" (Nov 10, 2025): A comprehensive guide to the history and top contenders of the year. "Katie Kitamura's Audition turns life into a stage" (Nov 8, 2025): A review of the novel’s exploration of self-recognition and performance. 2. Gender & Workplace Policy "Karnataka’s menstrual leave policy: The problem isn’t periods. It’s that workplaces are built for men" (Oct 13, 2025): A viral opinion piece arguing that modern workplace patterns are calibrated to male biology, making women's rights feel like "concessions." "Best of Both Sides: For women’s cricket, it’s 1978, not 1983" (Nov 7, 2025): A piece on how the yardstick of men's cricket cannot accurately measure the revolution in the women's game. 3. Social Trends & Childhood Crisis "The kids are not alright: An unprecedented crisis is brewing in schools and homes" (Nov 23, 2025): Writing as the Opinions Editor, she analyzed how rising competition and digital overload are overwhelming children. 4. Author Interviews & Profiles "Fame is another kind of loneliness: Kiran Desai on her Booker-shortlisted novel" (Sept 23, 2025): An interview regarding The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. "Once you’ve had a rocky and unsafe childhood, you can’t trust safety: Arundhati Roy" (Aug 30, 2025): A profile on Roy’s recent reflections on personal and political violence. Signature Beats Gender Lens: She frequently critiques the "borrowed terms" on which women navigate pregnancy, menstruation, and caregiving in the corporate world. Book Reviews: Her reviews often draw parallels between literature and other media, such as comparing Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune to the series Only Murders in the Building (Oct 25, 2025). ... Read More